[Diabetes-talk] Checking Sugar

[Mike Freeman]

Steve:

It depends upon what type of diabetes you have, what treatment regimen you are observing and what you are trying to ascertain regarding your body or the effectiveness of your treatment plan, your meal plan, your exercise plan and so forth.

Fasting blood glucose readings when you wake up in the morning (before breakfast) can tell you whether the demon "dawn phenomenon" is stalking you, how good your overall control is and sometimes whether you need to change your treatment regimen.

Readings two hours after a meal tell you whether the after-meal blood glucose levels are in your target range and, to some extent, how different foods affect your diabetes control.

Readings before and after exercise tell you whether you need to eat a snack before exercising or, in rare instances, when you should *not* exercise and how much you've brought down your bg levels by exercising.

Bedtime readings can tell you whether you might want to eat a snack or, if your readings are a bit high and you're on insulin, whether you should give yourself a correction dose.  Many people dread doing this as it brings them low but I've found that I can estimate the correction doses pretty accurately.

You should consult with your physician and/or a certified diabetes educator to work out what's best for you.

Mike Freeman

On Jan 19, 2011, at 5:57, Steve Cook <STCook at sccb.sc.gov> wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> When is the best time to check your sugar?  I heard around 3 to 5 years ago, that you take it 2 hours after you have eaten.
> 
> Steve Cook
> Assistive Technology Specialist
> SC Commission for the Blind
> 1430 Confederate Avenue
> Columbia, SC 29201
> Office: (803) 898-8788
> Fax: (803) 898-8882
> E-Mail: stcook at sccb.sc.gov
> 
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